Winter observations

[Baron von Teuchter]

Do you have any input on K03’s? Not MT’s, but a lot more siping and better edge channels for water clearance

Nope never tried them but would be interested to hear from people that have

 

[255/85]

What I really want is an MT pattern with sipes in the blocks and a winter compound. That would do me all year round. I don’t think such a thing exists.

Some full service tire shops in the US can sipe any tire you want. They mostly aim at big trucks (lorries) but I've had chunky MT type tires siped a couple of times. It does seem to help in winter but probably also shortens tread life as the siping is generic.

 

[MileHigh]

Kinda my last thought on this thread - put the snow tires back in storage and swapped back to K02’s which means, you guessed it, more snow and freezing road conditions the very first weekend. Just a reminder for me how poorly the K02’s perform on icy roads compared to the Blizzak’s - slid right around on literally the very first turn after backing out of the garage. Really like the K02’s - just not on ice.

Do you have any input on K03’s? Not MT’s, but a lot more siping and better edge channels for water clearance

Nope never tried them but would be interested to hear from people that have

Came here to talk about other things, but I just got KO3s (285/70R17E) on before a trip up in the mountains. Snow was bad enough on the Vail Pass that they shut it down for a couple of hours, and it was still pretty crappy- snow and ice. Every other car and SUV around me was visibly sliding, even AWD cars. I didn’t have any issues with traction or side slipping. (I as in high, center locked). Maybe not as good as snow tires, but they held their own. Nothing like passing a State Cop in their Explorer, knowing that they couldn’t catch me if they wanted to…

One thing that will come back to bite me is the DRAG from these KO3s is MASSIVE. Great for downhill driving and speed control on I-70, probably a hit on gas mileage….

On the bigger cold weather issue:
Heated or really heated sprayers for the headlights- they get dim with all the road grime from the highly treated and trafficked.
Heated windshield wipers to fight ice build up
Rework the DEfrost button setting- it heated and cracked my windshield in minutes (15F ambient), also took a rock/salt strike for a chip on the same trip…
Left edge of the windshield packs with ice, and then starts to mess with the wipers.

On sidestep/rails, I have the Blacksheep rails with the bolt on steps. They work pretty well, Have small spikes that help, and they didn’t snow up bad. Wish the steps were 1/4 wider, but I have wide feet.

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

Great info there

I’m still amazed a vehicle that is supposed to be all-weather utilitarian doesn’t have a heated front screen.

I’ve had aftermarket ones fitted to Subarus, a Lotus and a Ford escort rally car - they’re great. Really hope somebody starts making them for this.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Came here to talk about other things, but I just got KO3s (285/70R17E) on before a trip up in the mountains. Snow was bad enough on the Vail Pass that they shut it down for a couple of hours, and it was still pretty crappy- snow and ice. Every other car and SUV around me was visibly sliding, even AWD cars. I didn’t have any issues with traction or side slipping. (I as in high, center locked). Maybe not as good as snow tires, but they held their own. Nothing like passing a State Cop in their Explorer, knowing that they couldn’t catch me if they wanted to…

One thing that will come back to bite me is the DRAG from these KO3s is MASSIVE. Great for downhill driving and speed control on I-70, probably a hit on gas mileage….

On the bigger cold weather issue:
Heated or really heated sprayers for the headlights- they get dim with all the road grime from the highly treated and trafficked.
Heated windshield wipers to fight ice build up
Rework the DEfrost button setting- it heated and cracked my windshield in minutes (15F ambient), also took a rock/salt strike for a chip on the same trip…
Left edge of the windshield packs with ice, and then starts to mess with the wipers.

On sidestep/rails, I have the Blacksheep rails with the bolt on steps. They work pretty well, Have small spikes that help, and they didn’t snow up bad. Wish the steps were 1/4 wider, but I have wide feet.

Totally agree on the headlight/wiper issue - clearly they didn’t have snow/ice in mind on the design. I expect the 27/28 models will have some of that sorted out. On the drag issues - you mean the K03’s are worse than the K02’s, or sizing up to the 285’s is what did it? Thanks for the feedback on the Blacksheep rails - I’m still figuring that one out. Again, seems like most manufacturers haven’t approached design with ice in mind.

 

[MileHigh]

Totally agree on the headlight/wiper issue - clearly they didn’t have snow/ice in mind on the design. I expect the 27/28 models will have some of that sorted out. On the drag issues - you mean the K03’s are worse than the K02’s, or sizing up to the 285’s is what did it? Thanks for the feedback on the Blacksheep rails - I’m still figuring that one out. Again, seems like most manufacturers haven’t approached design with ice in mind.

I had the other tires, not K02s. I got an unrepairable hole in one of them, so I decided to go with the KO3s, rather than chase the standard tires as they get damage. So this was compared to the smaller, ‘slicker’ IG tires. I forget what they are called. Definately a more rugged look- size and tread wise, but I was fine with the ‘over landing’ look of the old ones.

I’ve already commented to Noland, even before this last trip, that IG needs a ‘upgraded’ ice/snow package. Sure a heated wheel would be nice, but I’ve gotten so that I don’t miss it that much.

A good defrost setting should be able to handle it, but not if it is going to crack windshields. And the air flow around the side mirrors maybe could be tweaked. My drivers side window is never ‘clean’.

All in all I was really happy (outside of the thermal cracked windshield) with the performance. Not perfect, but only had whiteknuckle moments because of other knuckleheads.

How IN THE F’ING WORLD puts on their HAZARD lights, but doesn’t put on their headlights… in driving snow and road bleck- in a small white car?

I did think about getting a sign for the back of my IG “This drive sucks, but it sucks a lot less in a Grenadier…”.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

I had the other tires, not K02s. I got an unrepairable hole in one of them, so I decided to go with the KO3s, rather than chase the standard tires as they get damage. So this was compared to the smaller, ‘slicker’ IG tires. I forget what they are called. Definately a more rugged look- size and tread wise, but I was fine with the ‘over landing’ look of the old ones.

I’ve already commented to Noland, even before this last trip, that IG needs a ‘upgraded’ ice/snow package. Sure a heated wheel would be nice, but I’ve gotten so that I don’t miss it that much.

A good defrost setting should be able to handle it, but not if it is going to crack windshields. And the air flow around the side mirrors maybe could be tweaked. My drivers side window is never ‘clean’.

All in all I was really happy (outside of the thermal cracked windshield) with the performance. Not perfect, but only had whiteknuckle moments because of other knuckleheads.

How IN THE F’ING WORLD puts on their HAZARD lights, but doesn’t put on their headlights… in driving snow and road bleck- in a small white car?

I did think about getting a sign for the back of my IG “This drive sucks, but it sucks a lot less in a Grenadier…”.

Gotcha. The Bridgestone Duelers, I think. I made similar comments to Knauz - you’re right - they could do a “cold weather package” that could include the heated seats, a heated steering wheel, heated headlights (maybe with washers), and heated wiper/fluid. An electronically heated front windshield, as you suggest, should be standard (then it will cost $3000 to replace - not just $2000)

 

[255/85]

Left edge of the windshield packs with ice, and then starts to mess with the wipers.

For some reason the snow and slush doesn't get pushed off the edge of the windshield and then freezes in place blocking the left few inches of the glass. A little wider sweep of the blades to the left would help.

Any issues for the RHD crowd? I know the upper right corner doesn't get swept but at least snow isn't being piled up until spring like on the left.

 

[MileHigh]

Is there a way that we could get some heat tape with some power?

I was thinking about having the windshield wipers sit in a 3D printed ‘tub’ or gutter that could be heated, or would collect windshield wiper fluid to help keep them from icing

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Is there a way that we could get some heat tape with some power?

I was thinking about having the windshield wipers sit in a 3D printed ‘tub’ or gutter that could be heated, or would collect windshield wiper fluid to help keep them from icing

What about something like this wired to one of the Ext spots under the hood? Then just stick it to the very bottom of the windshield - so the wipers just rest against the silicone strip

Amazon.com

 

[MileHigh]

What about something like this wired to one of the Ext spots under the hood? Then just stick it to the very bottom of the windshield - so the wipers just rest against the silicone strip

Amazon.com

Interesting. I’ve also seen that there are heated windshield wipers that would directly address the issue. I’m surprised that more people haven’t mentioned them, or that they are even an option?

Everblade seems the most mentioned on Youtube